Over the past few months, developments in AI have opened the doors for improvements in healthtech to more closely and efficiently track and treat illnesses. Such innovations could lead to huge health savings for consumers—according to a 2020 study, the integration of AI in healthtech can cut annual U.S. healthcare costs by $150 billion in 2026.
And it’s clear in the innovations that have evolved since: In 2022 alone, the Food and Drug Administration approved nearly 100 AI-enabled medical devices, according to data from October 5, ranging in complexity from basic algorithms to entirely machine learning-based tools.
While a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center found a majority of Americans would be uncomfortable if their healthcare provider relied on AI, researchers are nonetheless continuing to pivot from reactive health care to proactive care.
Here are nine ways the technology has already made an impact on the healthtech sphere.
AI tool to identify cancer
A tool developed last year by researchers at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, the Institute of Cancer Research in London, and Imperial College London has the ability to accurately identify cancerous growths on CT scans.
The researchers say the tool can help doctors make quick decisions and fast-track patients to the best treatment for their illness. While still at an early stage, they emphasized the benefits of the tool are clear.
Moderna and IBM’s partnership
Earlier this month, Moderna and IBM announced a partnership to use quantum computing and generative artificial intelligence on research and development of mRNA technology. The new advancements will allow researchers to create new vaccines to target specific areas.
AI-powered heart failure tool
In December, the FDA approved a tool developed at Mayo Clinic that can identify heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The development is a major milestone in detecting and expediting care for heart failure.
AI detecting Parkinson’s disease
An August 2022 study detailed a new AI model that can detect Parkinson’s disease and track its progression from measuring breathing while asleep. The model can also approximate the severity of the disease once detected.
Machine learning-based risk labor scores
Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that it’s possible to use machine learning to determine whether a vaginal birth will have positive outcomes through predicting patterns of changes of pregnant people in labor. Using the data, the AI model can predict the probability of poor labor outcomes like postpartum hemorrhage or neonatal mortality.
Apple’s AI-powered health coaching service
According to Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly planning an AI-powered health coaching service which would use the technology to make suggestions and design custom health plans based on data collected on the user’s Apple Watch. The tool would promote healthy eating, sleep and exercise.
First AI-automated clinical documentation application
A Microsoft company, Nuance Communications, announced a first-of-its-kind application in March that combines conversational and ambient AI with Chat GPT-4 to create a tool for clinical documentation in healthcare.
Google’s AI healthtech
Google has been building a large language model (LLM) that is specially designed for the medical world. In its latest updates, the tech giant unveiled tools ranging from a chatbot assessing symptoms to AI-powered ultrasound devices that detected breast cancer.
AI assisting nurses
Danish startup Teton provides nurses with an AI assistant to monitor patients and help stay on top of paperwork. In other words, the assistant acts as another nurse to ease the burden on frontline workers, scanning for updates and staying in communication with the actual nurse.
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